A few only are tainted by
fanaticism, and fewer still are misers; because, probably they have
nothing to save. Of the character of the women I cannot speak, for want
of experience; the few we have met with have begged mostly for trinkets,
and looking-glasses, but we have seen little of the love of intrigue.
About Aheer, the Bornou and Soudan routes appear not to be far apart.
The Tibboos make Kisbee to be only eight days from Aghadez. The
Kailouees also state that Bilma (or _Boulouma_, in their pronunciation)
is only seven or eight days of good travelling from Tintalous; but the
salt-caravans always employ fourteen days, arriving at Bilma on the
fifteenth.
Yesterday afternoon a portion of a large Soudan caravan arrived. A
number of bullocks were amongst its beasts of burden; one of these had
immense branching horns, and, according to the report of Said's wife,
was of the same species as those found in her country, Kanemboo, near
Bornou. These bullocks seemed to be in every respect trained like
horses, and some of them carry a burden of four cantars.
_22d._--I rose early, to prepare my despatches for Mourzuk and England.
To-day not much wind, only a little refreshing breeze. The wind, which
appears to visit us daily instead of the rain, generally begins about an
hour after noon, and continues to blow in fitful gusts until three or
four P.M. when it gradually sinks.
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